Responding to the new NHS Workforce Plan announced by the Government today, Ruth Driscoll, Associate Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the end of life charity Marie Curie says:
"End of life care – the critical issue that affects every human being - is absent from today's plan. Most specialist end of life care is provided by charities like Marie Curie. The NHS workforce plan does not take account of the major challenges this sector is experiencing in recruiting and retaining staff to ensure it meets the demands of our ageing population. Neglecting end of life care now risks setting the NHS up to fail and not flourish in its next 75 years. The Government cannot continue to rely on charitable fundraising by hospices to plug workforce gaps in end of life care. Charitable providers should have been included in this 15-year plan. This is not an issue the Government can ignore but a vital part of our health and care system and should be treated with the priority it deserves."